Over one million self assessment taxpayers missed the filing deadline at midnight on 31 January, according to data published by HMRC. A record 11.5 million taxpayers did file their 2022/23 self assessment tax returns by the deadline. HMRC’s figures also showed that 1.1 million missed the deadline. The final day saw 778,068 beat the clock… Read more…

  HMRC has published guidance on the Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) requirements for sole traders and landlords. MTD for ITSA will require businesses and landlords with qualifying income to maintain digital records and update HMRC each quarter via compatible software.   In the guidance, HMRC stated that MTD… Read more…

Congratulations! It’s time to throw some confetti and celebrate because you’ve just hit a major milestone in your business journey. You are doing so incredibly well that it’s time to take on an employee to help you. It’s completely understandable that hiring your first ever employee can be a bit overwhelming, but just by following… Read more…

Government borrowing fell to £7.8 billion in December 2023 giving Chancellor Jeremy Hunt more scope to make the tax cuts he has hinted at in the Spring Budget. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data revealed that government borrowing for last December was around half of that borrowed in December 2022. It also showed that… Read more…

Tax cut promises may need to be scrapped as a result of the UK being in an ‘unfortunate economic and fiscal bind’, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned. The next government is likely to face some of the most difficult economic and fiscal choices the UK has faced outside of pandemics, conflicts and… Read more…

As the use of cryptoassets continues to grow HMRC is warning people to check if they need to complete a self assessment tax return for the 2022/23 tax year to avoid potential penalties. Anyone with cryptoassets should declare any income or gains above the tax-free allowance on a tax return. Tax may be due when… Read more…

The government should raise the turnover threshold for VAT from £85,000 to £100,000, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The business group said that this would give firms stepping into the VAT-paying ring crucial breathing space. It would also be an incentive to grow their turnover without fear of having to charge customers… Read more…

The government must clarify plans around new customs processes as firms remain in the dark about crucial aspects of their operation, says the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). The first phase of the UK’s Border Target Operating Model began on 31 January, with imports of plant and animal products now requiring export health certificates. It… Read more…

Artificial intelligence (AI) will affect almost 40% of all jobs around the world and deepen inequality, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned. In a new analysis, IMF researchers examined the potential impact of AI on the global labour market. It found that, in advanced economies, around 60% of jobs may be impacted by AI.… Read more…

Tens of thousands more over 50s are now running their own businesses despite an overall decline in self-employment since 2020, according to the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE). IPSE’s research found that the number of self-employed business owners aged 50 and over increased to 1.1 million in 2023 – 89,000 more than… Read more…